Tennessee's Berry says he's going to the NFL

APTennessee star safety Eric Berry said late Thursday night that he would skip his senior season and enter the NFL draft.Just filed this quick note for Friday's Huntsville Times regarding Tennessee star safety Eric Berry declaring for the NFL draft.

Following Thursday's 37-14 loss to Virginia Tech, Berry made official what had long been expected.

"I chose to enter the NFL draft (in April)," Berry said. "It's just something I feel like I have to do. I want to see my parents just relax. It's so hard because I don't want to go (to the NFL right now) but I feel I have to."

Berry's parents have both been laid off from their jobs in the last year.

ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay rates Berry the top player in the draft.

Much thanks to Brad Shepard, who pitched in to grab quotes for me tonight at the Chick-fil-A Bowl (including chasing down Berry) while we're typing away in the press box fighting the deadline crunch on New Year's Eve. Brad, you probably know, covered the Vols for The Times this season.